Pixar Animation Studios and Disney have teamed up once again to bring a computer animated children’s feature to the big screen. Their previous collaborations, Toy Story and Toy Story 2, were critical and financial successes. Both of those films combined wonderful animation, incredible voice talent and a good mix of imagination and humor to make features that were as enjoyable for adults as they were for kids.
Monsters, Inc. has all of the right elements. The computer animation is much better than that found in Toy Story or Toy Story 2. The voice acting by Billy Crystal and John Goodman has to be counted among their best acting work ever. The story, which deals with Monsters, Inc., a company that generates power for Monstropolis by scaring human children, is creative and well-executed.
Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) are two buddies who work together at Monsters, Inc., which generates power for the city of Monstropolis by converting the screams of human children into a fuel source. The screams are obtained through the use of an assembly line of closet doors, which monsters enter the human world, scare their assigned child, and return to the monster world. Unfortunately, since human children are becoming harder to scare — thanks to violent television programs and the music they listen to — a power shortage in Monstropolis is imminent. When a human child is accidentally let into the monster world things turn upside down for Mike, Sulley and Monstropolis.
On it’s own merits, Monsters, Inc. is very enjoyable. The concept behind the closet door factory is hilarious and quite imaginative. The acting is great and the animation is wonderful. Several viewings may be required to catch all of the inside jokes, movie references and sly, adult humor.
It might not be as “classic” as Shrek, but Monsters, Inc. is a true family movie that won’t bore kids and it certainly won’t insult an adults’ intelligence.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
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